About Us

Welcome to All Saints, Crostwight – one of two churches in the parish of Honing with Crostwight. The present building dates from the early 14th century, and now stands alone among arable fields, with an atmosphere of tranquillity and charm.

The building is faced with flint pebbles, which are knapped on the south nave wall and porch, and interspersed with occasional medieval bricks. Bricks are also used to form the outer arch of the porch, the doorway to the tower, and the edges of the embrasures of the tower windows. The (restored) windows, together with the doorways and chancel arch, are in the Decorated style of medieval architecture. The porch with its crenellated parapet and two image niches is probably 15th century.

The square tower was once much higher, but developed a crack which expanded at the end of the 19th century until the structure became unstable. In 1910 the top was removed and the tower was capped with a distinctive, low pyramid of red pantiles.

The most important interior features are the nationally-significant 14th century wall paintings, the 15th century rood screen with its delightful spandrel carvings, the medieval stone grave covers and monumental brass inscriptions in the chancel, the (very worn) 13th century Purbeck marble font, and the early 15th century bell.

The wall paintings are in two sections on the north wall of the nave: the western section depicts a Tree of the Seven Deadly Sins, a Warning to Gossips, and a St Christopher, while the eastern section has a relatively complete narrative sequence of Christ’s Passion. The western section was in a fragile state, but has recently been repaired and conserved. Funds are now being raised to conserve the eastern section.

Detailed guides to the church and the wall paintings are for sale in the church.